WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced the arrests of several convicted violent offenders living in the country illegally, describing the operation as a year-end effort to protect American communities during the holiday season.
Federal officials said those taken into custody include individuals convicted of crimes ranging from burglary and aggravated kidnapping to bank robbery and violent assault. The coordinated arrests took place across multiple states as part of ICE’s “worst of the worst” enforcement campaign targeting noncitizens with serious criminal convictions.
“Violent criminal illegal aliens who break our laws have absolutely no business remaining in the United States,” said Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin. “Yesterday’s arrests include criminal illegal aliens convicted for burglary, bank robbery, and kidnapping. We are thankful for our law enforcement who delivered the best Christmas gift for American families this holiday season: safer communities.”
Among those arrested were Jessupe Sandino Berraza-Rivera, a Chilean national and alleged member of the South American Theft Group convicted of burglary in Santa Ana, California; Luis Enrique Castaneda-Reyes, a Colombian national with 10 criminal convictions including bank robbery and drug-related weapons offenses in New Jersey; and Elidelfo Castro-Nava, a Mexican national convicted of aggravated kidnapping and assault in Salt Lake County, Utah.
ICE also arrested Juan Emerson Gomez-Sorto of El Salvador, convicted of aggravated assault in Price, Utah, and Jesser Sandoval-Cruz of Honduras, convicted in Texas for assault of a family household member following a previous conviction.
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Agency officials said the arrests reflect an ongoing federal initiative to identify and remove violent offenders who pose significant public safety threats.
ICE said its enforcement teams “are working around the clock to ensure silent nights and safer streets” during the holiday season.
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